"Calista? Thank god!"

I opened my eyes to see a pink head hovering over me. I looked at both Sakura and lady Chiyo. Lee and Guy and Kakashi and TenTen and Neji were also there. I looked between them all and they returned the stare.

I was alive? But how… I had lost. I felt pain in my torso and-

I tried to sit up but immediately my body refused and I fell back down. I felt a warm pain in my torso and would have cried out had I not been a mute.

"Hold still. When we found you there was a lot of blood… and damage. I healed the most I could but until we get back to Suna there's little else I can do." Sakura bit her cheek.

I nodded, but looked away. Why was I here? And what was up with Hidan's last words to me. Sis? Was that a slang? OF course it was. It had to be.

"Easy Calista. You suffered a heavy blow." Kakashi helped me stand up. My body protested but I did so anyways. The field we were on was grassy and the sun was shining. It would have been nice.

But there was someone else here. On the ground. Sakura walked over and huddled above him. I nudged Kakashi and reluctantly he moved with me closer.

Gaara…

He seemed so peaceful. Like he was sleeping. What if that was it? What if he was just unconscious or asleep? What if the extraction hadn't hurt him?

"…Sakura" Naruto looked expectantly at her. We all did.

She shook her head and stepped away. I blinked away tears. Kakashi and Sakura helped me move forward a little. I pushed Kakashi away and I fell to my knees besides him. My tears didn't listen when I begged them not to come.

Gaara looked at peace for the first time in his life. As if all his trouble had been washed away. One of my tears landed on his cheek, and another. I bent down. I knew I opened up the cut on my torso but the pain in my heart was so much worse. We had all fought so hard to get him back and risked our lives. There were finally people who loved and cared about him. Just when he was accepted this happened.

I buried my face into his chest and cried. This wasn't right. This wasn't how it was supposed to end. I hadn't even gotten a proper chance to talk to him. What if… what if I helped him when he fought Deidara? What if I ignored Asuma and went after him? I should have! If I had he might be here! WHY! Why! Why…

Naruto spoke the words I could not. "Why was it Gaara… always Gaara… to die like this! He's the Kazekage. He didn't just become the Kazekage."

"Relax Naruto." Chiyo said softly.

"SHUTUP!" Naruto screamed. His voice was broken up with tears.

"If you shinobi of the sand hadn't put a monster in Gaara then nothing like this would have happened! Did any of you even think to ask Gaara how he felt?" I cried harder at his words but it was unnoticed as they were quiet. Naruto was the only one who could understand his pain. Not even I, his first friend, could.

"What is this Jinchuuriki anyway? You just arrogantly made up that word to call them!"

And Naruto broke down. "I couldn't save Sasuke… and I couldn't save Gaara. For three years I trained desperately… but nothing's changed since three years ago, has it?

I looked up at Naruto and grabbed his hand. He helped me stand and I reached for his face. In the only gesture of comfort I could give, I kissed each of his tear-stained cheeks. He cried harder and I leaned against him to keep standing. We were a sorry pair but Gaara meant the most to us.

When Chiyo moved towards Gaara. I didn't react at first. Not until Sakura yelled. "Lady Chiyo! That Jutsu is…"

A look cut her off. I frowned. "What're you trying to do now?" Naruto asked my question for me.

"That's…" Guy looked serious.

"Yes…" Kakashi confirmed.

What was going on? Naruto voiced that question as well.

"She's bringing Gaara back." Sakura shot Naruto a look.

I gasped. Was that possible? How could you do that? It… it wasn't...

"You can really do something like that?" Naruto held desperation in his voice.

Sakura answered that yes… only Lady Chiyo could.

"DAMN! Not enough Chakra!" Chiyo panted.

I took a wobbly step away from Naruto and lent on Neji instead. Naruto stepped forward. "Please… use my Chakra! Old lady can you do that?"

Chiyo directed him and we waited with bated breath. Was this truly possible? Should I get my hopes up? Hopes that Gaara would return to us? That perhaps this wasn't all in vain…

When Chiyo spoke again we all listened. She gave advice to Naruto and Sakura, advice I tried to forget. It was not for my ears. When she did say my name I snapped my head that way. "Calista, White Dragon of the Leaf… you were the first one to accept Gaara. Forgive what he has done to you and help him become a stronger man. He needs you now more than ever. Show him… that he can be loved once more."

I sniffed a few times at her words. I didn't have to be told to forgive him. Of course I did. Then Chiyo went still and fell into Sakura.

"Gaara?" Naruto asked. Slowly Gaara opened his eyes and looked up at the blonde.

"This is…" He looked at me and then behind me. I hadn't even realized that such a large crowd had gathered all around us. I smiled. This is what Gaara deserved.

"Everyone came running to Save you!" Naruto laughed. "You sure caused us a lot of trouble."

"Damn right! You're just a little brother causing me all kinds of worries." Kankuro came up to stand besides me. He looked at me and at my red torso and frowned, patting my shoulder.

"Jeez what's with you two, talking so big? Gaara's the Kazekage remember? So don't be giving him any lip." Temari interrupted and I smiled despite myself. "You're both just little grunts."

Pushing Naruto aside Temari leaned over Gaara. "Gaara how are you?"

Slowly Gaara made an effort to stand. I wanted to help him but this was a pride thing and even if I could I wouldn't.

I was deep in thought that I didn't notice two girls nudge me aside to get to the Kazekage. I blinked. Since when was he that popular with the ladies? I wasn't really jealous-well maybe a tad bit-but I frowned. Neji looked at me before pulling off his jacket and putting it over me. It was strange. We hadn't had too much contact before. "You OK?"

I nodded, looking down at my torso. It was bare except a white wrap all the way around me. I supposed it did look… rather revealing. I hadn't had time to see the damage yet, but I could tell it wasn't too good. When I got back to the leaf I'd ask a medic to look at it.

"Good."

"Hey Calista! What kinds of guys do you like?" Naruto hollered over to me as Neji helped me over in their direction. I blinked, thinking. I didn't know how to answer an embarrassing question like that.

"Naruto that's inappropriate" Neji cleared his throat. I laughed.

"Thank you Naruto." Kankuro said, difusing the situation. I smiled softly.

"Don't thank me. It's the old lady over there that saved him." He corrected.

Our eyes went over there and I noticed Sakura wasn't smiling. She had tears in her eye looking at lady Chiyo. Kankuro grew serious as well.

"She's just a little tired and is taking a nap now... but when she gets back to the village she'll be as good as-"

"You're wrong…" Kankuro interrupted Naruto. "That wasn't a medic ninjutsu. That was a Tensei Ninjutsu. Lazy Chiyo is… dead."

I gasped. I had expected something like that but… it was too horrible.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto didn't seem to want it to be true.

"In exchange for her own life… she was able to use that ninjutsu to revive a dead person." Everyone around us sobered up. "There was a time in the suna puppet corps when research and development was conducted on a jutsu intended to give puppets life. And lady chiyo stood at the forefront of that Jutsu. While the theory of the jutsu itself was developed, somewhere along the line before experiments were conducted with actual humans, the jutsu was classified as forbidden under having far too much risk. After which it was sealed away."

I sighed and looked at Naruto and then Chiyo. It was sad that things had to end this way.

Gaara called a moment of silence and prayers for lady Chiyo and I too closed my eyes. When I opened them I found myself looking at Gaara. He was no longer alone. People started heading to the village but stayed behind. Naruto noticed and walked up to me. "You coming?"

I shook my head. I wouldn't be going to Suna.

"Why not?" Naruto frowned.

"It isn't the place for her."

I almost jumped as an arm went around my waste. I looked up at Asuma and put my arm over his shoulder so he could support me.

"Asuma!" Naruto grinned. "Your late!"

"Just in time to take this brat home though." He winked at me. "I'll catch you guys in a few days."

"Oh… Okay! We can spar when I get back Calista!" Naruto ran off to catch up to Gaara.

The read head turned back and looked right at me. I smiled, and then I turned around. I had accomplished what I had meant to do. And now It was time to go home with Asuma.

Don't worry guys! She'll be back in Suna in a chapter or two :D (evil face)

And yes, most of the dialogue is taken directly from Naruto (The manga). The part where Naruto asked what kind of guys Calista likes is because at that moment Kankuro as telling him guys with power like Gaara would always be popular with the ladies. I could just see Naruto asking something boldly like that haha.